Australian High Commissioner visits Julian Assange in prison, declares WikiLeaks founder’s case has gone on too long
- Stephen Smith visited imprisoned Australian Julian Assange
- Assange has been fighting extradition to the US for a year
Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom has said the case of imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange “has gone on too long”.
Stephen Smith visited Assange – who is accused of espionage in the US – in London’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since 2019 as he fights extradition proceedings.
It is the first time since November 2019 that Assange has accepted a consular visit and the first time a high commissioner has met the Australian behind bars.
In a statement following Tuesday’s visit, Mr Smith said: “The Australian Government clearly believes that Mr Assange’s case has gone on too long and needs to be brought to an end.”
Earlier he said it is “very important that the Australian government is able to fulfill its consular obligations”.
Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Smith has visited imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (pictured) – who is Australian – in a UK prison
Julian Assange’s wife Stella (pictured) said she was glad Mr Smith met her husband
“I would very much like to have a conversation with him, check on his health and well-being and hopefully see if regular visits can be a feature of the relationship with Mr. Assange going forward,” Smith said.
But Assange wants diplomatic support, not just a consular visit, from Australia in his fight to avoid extradition to the US and to be released from prison.
One of the services provided by an Australian embassy or consulate is to visit prisoners from Australia in the countries in which they operate.
This consular requirement is very different from the diplomatic support Assange wants, which, if granted, would mean Australia pleading for his release.
An email sent by Assange’s lawyers to the Australian High Commission in February when the prison visit was being negotiated was obtained by the ABC.
“Mr. Assange would welcome such a meeting… to inform and obtain diplomatic support provided in his case by the Australian Government,” the email read.
Assange’s wife Stella said ahead of the visit outside prison that she was happy that Smith was about to meet her husband.
“We are delighted that the Australian High Commissioner has agreed to come to this visit and I hope it will be a constructive and positive step,” she said.
Following his visit, Mr. Smith would not say whether that matter has been discussed.
Stephen Smith (pictured outside the Prime Minister’s residence at 10, Downing Street) is Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK
“In accordance with usual consular practice and as agreed with Mr Assange, I propose not to comment on details of our meeting,” he said.
Appeals to prevent Assange from being extradited to the US are still before the British courts.
Last weekend, Assange’s father, John Shipton, welcomed the news that Smith would be visiting his son.
“It will give the High Commissioner an opportunity to see the appalling conditions Julian is being held in and the terrible toll his continued incarceration is taking on his health and on his family,” he said.